Actually, the main reason I thought the tool tip thing would be good was because I really like the d-pad shortcuts and they're not something a noob would immediately know about and be able to enjoy. I've always envisioned something like the following and been unable to explain it so I made a crappy GIF to illustrate the idea.
(
http://makeagif.com/i/nEzi4Z)
The idea is when you point at the mode icon the others come out from behind it and rotate into position when you press the corresponding direction.